2016 MotoGP

[Klyntonius]

Maverick Vinales finished fastest yesterday and is so far quickest today as well on his Suzuki. Miller completed 50-odd laps yesterday and has had a small crash today and the leg has held up well.

 

[SmAshmoto]

Making the call now. Maverick will be the next "alien".

 

[imadodgyumpire]

I went down today. Got there about 11-11:20am. Saw about 30mins before rain meant they all pitted. Bored out of my mind for 3 hours before it was dry enough to finally come out. Then watched another hour or so before I couldn't be bothered and went home. Had a good burger from Burger Edge though.

 

[Klyntonius]

Day 3 test times:

Pos No Rider Bike Time Diff Prev
1 93 Marc Márquez Honda RC213V 1:29.158
2 25 Maverick Viñales Suzuki GSX-RR 1:29.299 0.141 0.141
3 35 Cal Crutchlow Honda RC213V 1:29.348 0.190 0.049
4 8 Hector Barbera Ducati GP14.2 1:29.361 0.203 0.013
5 46 Valentino Rossi Yamaha M1 1:29.435 0.277 0.074
6 76 Loris Baz Ducati GP14.2 1:29.583 0.425 0.148
7 26 Dani Pedrosa Honda RC213V 1:29.606 0.448 0.023
8 44 Pol Espargaro Yamaha M1 1:29.718 0.560 0.112
9 99 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha M1 1:29.760 0.602 0.042
10 4 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati GP16 1:29.860 0.702 0.100
11 45 Scott Redding Ducati GP15 1:29.922 0.764 0.062
12 29 Andrea Iannone Ducati GP16 1:29.932 0.774 0.010
13 9 Danilo Petrucci Ducati GP15 1:29.995 0.837 0.063
14 43 Jack Miller Honda RC213V 1:30.023 0.865 0.028
15 53 Tito Rabat Honda RC213V 1:30.119 0.961 0.096
16 38 Bradley Smith Yamaha M1 1:30.188 1.030 0.069
17 41 Aleix Espargaro Suzuki GSX-RR 1:30.198 1.040 0.010
18 68 Yonny Hernandez Ducati GP14.2 1:30.492 1.334 0.294
19 50 Eugene Laverty Ducati GP14.2 1:31.055 1.897 0.563
20 12 Takuya Tsuda Suzuki GSX-RR 1:33.532 4.374 2.477

Quite a shake up of the usual rider standings and very close times with the top 15 all within a second of each other.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

The thing about testing. Is that it really is just that, testing. They're just riding around and around, to an unknown program, and that just it. You recognise the bikes and colours and you know it them. But there's no atmosphere, no vibe.

They had one of the all time great races 5 months ago. And now? Nothing. Watching Lorenzo going through the hayshed, where he was super during the GP. Now he's just riding through there like everybody else.

 

[hey shorty]

One of those days that it would be great to be able to chat to engineers and the like, rather than whats going on track.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Apparently, it's all business during the actual testing. They don't want to know ya. But when testing's done, they all have a laugh. I guy I was chatting to said that Rossi hangs out at the front gates, willing to chat to all the fans and sign stuff. Then this guy told me the exact restaurant or pub they hang out afterwards, and are willing chat to fans.

 

[Klyntonius]

Danilo Petrucci will miss the last test after he busted his hand in a crash at Phillip Island.



He may also miss the round 1 Qatar race which would see him replaced by a Ducati test rider - likely to be Pirro not Stoner unfortunately.

 

[Klyntonius]

Final pre-season test has been run and "won" at Qatar. Lorenzo dominated of course.

1. = Jorge Lorenzo ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)1m 54.810s [Lap 11/51]
2. = Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Yakhnich (Desmosedici GP15)1m 55.326s +0.516s[43/55]
3. = Maverick Viñales ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)1m 55.333s +0.523s[29/48]
4. ˄ Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)1m 55.402s +0.592s[52/52]
5. ˅ Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)1m 55.429s +0.619s[36/55]
6. ˅ Andrea Iannone ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP16)1m 55.535s +0.725s[5/52]
7. = Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V)1m 55.592s +0.782s[37/46]
8. ˄ Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP16)1m 55.700s +0.890s[47/47]
9. ˅ Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2)1m 55.733s +0.923s[8/23]
10. ˅ Pol Espargaro ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)1m 55.882s +1.072s[35/40]
11. ˅ Yonny Hernandez COL Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP14.2)1m 55.894s +1.084s[17/18]
12. = Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)1m 55.966s +1.156s[39/62]
13. = Loris Baz FRA Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2)1m 56.057s +1.247s[20/27]
14. = Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)1m 56.142s +1.332s[27/30]
15. = Aleix Espargaro ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)1m 56.419s +1.609s[28/32]
16. = Michele Pirro ITA Octo Pramac Yakhnich (Desmosedici GP15)1m 56.591s +1.781s[30/63]
17. = Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V)*1m 57.027s +2.217s[7/29]
18. = Alvaro Bautista ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)1m 57.043s +2.233s[50/52]
19. = Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V)1m 57.046s +2.236s[31/40]
20. = Eugene Laverty IRL Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP14.2)1m 57.146s +2.336s[35/51]
21. = Stefan Bradl GER Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)1m 57.340s +2.530s[41/61]
22. = Takuya Tsuda JPN Suzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR)2m 0.291s +5.481s[18/20]

Things of note:

- 4 manufacturers in the top 4 spots. Might we finally see some variety at the front?!
- Scott Redding's talent is finally coming to the fore. After a couple of tough years at Honda, he's taken to the Duc like, er, a duck to water. Podiums are a possibility and a maybe factory ride next year too.
- Viñales couldn't have been more impressive, running in the top 3 all three days. He certainly looks the next big thing and I desperately hope Suzuki hold onto him.
- Honda have a lot of work to do. Marquez finished okay but they've complained bitterly most test about chassis issues. Pedrosa way off the pace.
- Aprilia have an all new bike, their first full prototype racer since the death trap that was the Cube. It has a lovely shape and a horrendous colour scheme.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Pretty amusing reading in fb. Lol How many Rossi fans are offended over Lorenzo winning the title, and how many are filthy Marquez didn't try to over take him when they thought he should've won?

Even if he was genuinely quicker than Lorenzo, as if he was going to help Rossi? What a pack of campaigners. Idiots.

 

[Klyntonius]

Pretty amusing reading in fb. Lol How many Rossi fans are offended over Lorenzo winning the title, and how many are filthy Marquez didn't try to over take him when they thought he should've won?

Even if he was genuinely quicker than Lorenzo, as if he was going to help Rossi? What a pack of campaigners. Idiots.

And unfortunately they're inescapable. Stories posted on Miller and Smith, what do I find in the comments section? F@£% Marquez / Lorenzo. Ugh, grow up.

 

[hey shorty]

There was a rider killed in a support race last night. 600 Supersport I believe, 49yo in a multiple bike pileup.

Ducati fast in practice, Maverick too.

 

[Klyntonius]

There was a rider killed in a support race last night. 600 Supersport I believe, 49yo in a multiple bike pileup.

Ducati fast in practice, Maverick too.

Was involved in a big pile up I think. Horrible news.

 

[Klyntonius]

Times heading into qualifying tomorrow:

Pos No. Rider Bike Time Diff Diff Previous
1 29 Andrea Iannone Ducati 1'54.639
2 99 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 1'54.776 0.137 0.137
3 93 Marc Marquez Honda 1'54.835 0.196 0.059
4 4 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati 1'54.945 0.306 0.110
5 25 Maverick Viñales Suzuki 1'54.976 0.337 0.031
6 26 Dani Pedrosa Honda 1'55.113 0.474 0.137
7 46 Valentino Rossi Yamaha 1'55.175 0.536 0.062
8 8 Hector Barbera Ducati 1'55.323 0.684 0.148
9 45 Scott Redding Ducati 1'55.399 0.760 0.076
10 44 Pol Espargaro Yamaha 1'55.476 0.837 0.077
To Q1
11 41 Aleix Espargaro Suzuki 1'55.491 0.852 0.015
12 38 Bradley Smith Yamaha 1'55.505 0.866 0.014
13 76 Loris Baz Ducati 1'55.773 1.134 0.268
14 9 Danilo Petrucci Ducati 1'55.931 1.292 0.158
15 35 Cal Crutchlow Honda 1'55.946 1.307 0.015
16 68 Yonny Hernandez Ducati 1'56.100 1.461 0.154
17 43 Jack Miller Honda 1'56.207 1.568 0.107
18 53 Tito Rabat Honda 1'56.625 1.986 0.418
19 19 Alvaro Bautista Aprilia 1'56.749 2.110 0.124
20 6 Stefan Bradl Aprilia 1'57.069 2.430 0.320
21 50 Eugene Laverty Ducati 1'57.135 2.496 0.066


Some nice variety at the front. When hey shorty says the Ducatis are fast, he's not wrong. Iannone 350 kays down the main chute! Lorenzo a measly 335. The seven highest top speed are all Ducatis.

Honda are really struggling outside of Marquez.

Hector Barbera has been as high as 4th fastest - and he's on a 2014 model Ducati!

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Now the F1 is done. The focus goes onto Qatar. Not sure i'll be able to watch the race. But it was a nice surprise to see 4 manufacturers file the tom4 spots in qualifying.

Motogp is a bit like the nrl for me. I hadn't got over last season's finish. Now this season has started.

 

[hey shorty]

What time is the start ??

 

[imadodgyumpire]

TV guide says coverage start 4:30am tomorrow on ONE.

 

[Klyntonius]

Final qualifying results:

Pos No. Rider Bike Time Diff Diff Previous
1 99 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 1'54.543
2 93 Marc Marquez Honda 1'54.634 0.091 0.091
3 25 Maverick Viñales Suzuki 1'54.638 0.095 0.004
4 29 Andrea Iannone Ducati 1'54.693 0.150 0.055
5 46 Valentino Rossi Yamaha 1'54.815 0.272 0.122
6 4 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati 1'54.963 0.420 0.148
7 26 Dani Pedrosa Honda 1'55.078 0.535 0.115
8 8 Hector Barbera Ducati 1'55.165 0.622 0.087
9 44 Pol Espargaro Yamaha 1'55.302 0.759 0.137
10 35 Cal Crutchlow Honda 1'55.352 0.809 0.050
11 38 Bradley Smith Yamaha 1'55.414 0.871 0.062
12 45 Scott Redding Ducati 1'55.508 0.965 0.094
13 68 Yonny Hernandez Ducati 1'56.157 0.866 0.667
14 50 Eugene Laverty Ducati 1'56.186 0.895 0.029
15 41 Aleix Espargaro Suzuki 1'56.238 0.947 0.052
16 76 Loris Baz Ducati 1'56.375 1.084 0.137
17 19 Alvaro Bautista Aprilia 1'56.595 1.304 0.220
18 43 Jack Miller Honda 1'56.620 1.329 0.025
19 53 Tito Rabat Honda 1'57.108 1.817 0.488
20 6 Stefan Bradl Aprilia 1'57.216 1.925 0.108

- Rossi has signed on for two more years with Yamaha.
- In FP4 Lorenzo got in Ross's way, enraging the Italian and the two bickered for the rest of the session.
- Speaking to Spanish media afterwards, Lorenzo suggested Rossi signed with Yamaha so quick because he has no other options due to his age and burning bridges with Honda and Ducati.
- Rossi returned fire saying Lorenzo had to weigh up his offer from Yamaha with advances from Ducati, that switching manufacturers took balls and he expected Jorge to remain with Yamaha.

It's game on! Can't wait for the racing to begin!

 

[JUBJUB]

TV guide says coverage start 4:30am tomorrow on ONE.

5am AEDST is the race time

 

[hey shorty]

I think they're both right TBH

 

[Klyntonius]

I think they're both right TBH

I reckon you're not far wrong. Lorenzo will wait half a dozen rounds to see how competitive the Ducati is to stand any chance of leaving. Or maybe Rossi is goading him to leave by questioning his courage?!

 

[Klyntonius]

Bradley Smith has signed a two year deal with KTM.

Hernandez, Iannone and Crutchlow out early.

 

[Klyntonius]

Maverick has a new helmet. It's awesome.

 

[Klyntonius]

Master class by Lorenzo. Great start to his title defence. Dovi back on the podium is excellent. Tight race without much overtaking.

And channel 10 stink. Lorenzo interview only, none of the other podium getters and no podium celebrations. Half arsed coverage. But what's new I suppose.

 

[hey shorty]

Miller in the points also, should only get stronger as he gets fitter.